Low Thyroid!!!

Oh and eat fish at least once a week, fresh vegetables, low sodium, not greasy foods, change your salt if you haven't done so yet to iodized salt. And the comment about soy is right. You can eat it but not as much.

Yes - I'm currently taking 175mcg. I think what happens is that they prescribe the bare minimum, which HELPS but perhaps not ENOUGH until they get you to a dose that doesn't need to change. I *think* I'm finally there at 175mcg. I've been on this one for over a year now.

Make sure to always take Synthryoid instead of Levothryoid. My Endocrine doctor said that Levo is generic and doesn;t as work well.

Welcome back! MFP has a hypothyroidism & hyperthyroidism group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/753-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism

I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease). Synthroid & Cytomel reduce the fatigue, so I can be more active. But my loss was all about logging everything I eat & drink accurately & honestly.

I'm less hungry when I use MFP's default protein & fiber goals as minimums and ignore fat & carbs. It'll take trial & error to find what works for you.

I have been told not to take my levothroid with coffee or with Vit D. Also, it was suggested that I take it separate from my other medication because it can cause heartburn when taken with other meds.
There is no way I would ever consider going without my medication for my low functioning thyroid. You had many of the same side effects I did, but there are many more.....hair falling out, deepening voice, leathery skin, and very bad depression just to name a few. Any side effects my medicine may have could never come close to the hell I went through before I was diagnosed. You will start feeling better very soon. Good luck!

Diet
There are recommendations to avoid soy, goitrous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower and stone fruits like peaches and strawberries. The research is inconclusive. Some studies back it, other don't.

When I was diagnosed, I dropped it all. I had a hard time getting my thyroid regulated with the meds, gained a lot of weight and had tons of other side effects. UGH!

I really do think it's individual. I eat all those things now and am in the best health since I was diagnosed. And to be honest, before that.

Meds
Talk to your doctor about dosage and when to take them. See what s/he says about what is working best for you. True they need to be on an empty stomach and that calcium, iron and other supplements can interfere with absorption (as can food). Antacids like nexium and prevacid are a no-no and must be taken as far apart from the meds as possible.

I take all mine in the morning (well, technically at my 4am wake-up pee break). While the T4 (synthroid/levoxyl) needs to build up in your system, the cytomel is fast acting and is in and out of your system within about a day.

jadedone wrote: »

I found I have to wait 2-3 hours after taking my meds before I can eat anything. I found I feel better if I do. I wait 4 hours before taking my vitamins.My Dr said the vitamins affected the synthroid. I was told to avoid soy that it would counter the effect of the synthroid. As long as my DR has me on the right dose I lose weight normally. This is my first year of being on meds for hypothyroidism and I have gone from 165 lbs to 140lbs. I know its time to have my levels checked since I have been at 140lbs for 2 months now. :happy:

Hmm I think I will need to ask my dr about soy. I have soy sauce about 2-3 times a week, tofu/similar items 1-2 a month, and edamame 2x a month, soy milk 3-5x a month.... I wonder if these have an impact.

You have to eat a LOT more soy than that to have an impact. Don't worry about it.

According to the Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/expert-answers/hypothyroidism-diet/faq-20058554

Generally, there's no hypothyroidism diet. Although claims about hypothyroidism diets abound, there's no evidence that eating or avoiding certain foods will improve thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism.

If you have hypothyroidism, take thyroid hormone replacement as directed by your doctor—generally with an empty stomach. It's also important to note that too much dietary fiber can impair the absorption of synthetic thyroid hormone. Certain foods, supplements and medications can have the same effect.

Avoid taking your thyroid hormone at the same time as:
• Iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron
• Calcium supplements
• Antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium
• Some ulcer medications, such as sucralfate (Carafate)
• Some cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as those containing cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid)

To avoid potential interactions, use these products several hours before or after you take your thyroid medication.

bluepotatoes66 wrote: »

mamapeach910 wrote: »

Psychgrrl wrote: »

Diet
There are recommendations to avoid soy, goitrous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower and stone fruits like peaches and strawberries. The research is inconclusive. Some studies back it, other don't.

When I was diagnosed, I dropped it all. I had a hard time getting my thyroid regulated with the meds, gained a lot of weight and had tons of other side effects. UGH!

I really do think it's individual. I eat all those things now and am in the best health since I was diagnosed. And to be honest, before that.

Meds
Talk to your doctor about dosage and when to take them. See what s/he says about what is working best for you. True they need to be on an empty stomach and that calcium, iron and other supplements can interfere with absorption (as can food). Antacids like nexium and prevacid are a no-no and must be taken as far apart from the meds as possible.

I take all mine in the morning (well, technically at my 4am wake-up pee break). While the T4 (synthroid/levoxyl) needs to build up in your system, the cytomel is fast acting and is in and out of your system within about a day.

I talked to my endo about the veggies, she told me that I'd really have to gorge on them for them to be problematic. I adore cauliflower. I adore strawberries. I don't eat huge quantities, but I eat them frequently. I have Hashimoto's, and my thyroid does what a thyroid does with Hashimoto's in that it will run hot and cold sometimes, and it's hard to get it regulated, but according to my endo, it's down to Hashimoto's, NOT my diet.

Also, the chemical that causes thyroid issues with goitrous veggies starts to break down at 110 degrees Celsius (10 degrees above boiling)/230 Fahrenheit (18 degrees above boiling) - so steaming cauliflower and broccoli will basically get rid of it anyway.

Oh, that's good to know, thanks. I usually have my cauliflower roasted with smoked paprika. No worries eating it that way!

Here is another one. You have all given so much info there probably isn't much to add. I was diagnosed hypothyroid about 24 years ago. My doctor was never the talkative kind, and I didn't know enough to ask besides being worried about "complaining". I did notice that at every pregnancy after that, I would be unusually tired and kind of feverish the first three months, then came three months of calm, followed by a bad roller coaster ride of depression and anxiety with over 10 lbs weight loss the last 6 to 10 weeks. I did carefully mention it to doctor, but he didn't know what it was. He was sure it had nothing to do with the Synthroids. So now I wonder what it could be. Anyone else experience this?